re: Breaking 80

quote:

---

You should be trying to break par with that handicap. Breaking 80 should be almost automatic

---

???

I’d say it’s 50/50 whether I do or not. Looking at my stats I’ve done it 10 of my last 24 rounds and 3X shot 80 on the number.

So many don’t understand handicaps. It’s not an average, most people only shoot their handicap ~20% of the time.

My scoring average over my last 25 rounds is 79.6

Im a 12 right now as well. I’ve broken 80 five times and have countless 9s in the 30’s, several 80s and 81s. The first time I pulled it off, I lost track of where I was and finished with 5 straight pars to shoot 79 on the number. Stop trying to do it and let it happen. Make other people keep the score card. Whatever you can do not to know where you are in relation to par, do it

quote:

---

I went from a 10 last year to currently a 4.9 according to 18 birdies, I’m always trying to break 80

---

I don’t think 18 birdies handicap calculator is accurate. It’s got me at a 2.4, and I’m more like a 6 right now. I think it overvalues your really good rounds, I had a 67 at Purcell farms I think is really skewing it last year. Most of my rounds this year have been 75-79.

quote:

---

A 2.4 could be 6 from the tips if the course rating and slope dictate it.

---

I’d be a lot more than a 6 from the tips. I’m an old guy and I look at my sim results and my driver average carry is 228. I play tees which if I hit a perfect drive and a perfect 3 wood I can reach the shortest par 5 in 2.

At rtj in capital hill that’s the white tees, which btw i haven’t had an eagle putt at yet. But 2 great shots I can get there and some of the par 4’s I’m still hitting driver and 5 wood.

That’s probably another aspect of breaking 80 people should consider. Play the correct tees for your game. Golf is a much more fun game when you do that. #6 on the judge I’d be hitting driver on a par 3 to an island green from the tips. Into the wind I wouldn’t even be able to reach the green on it or probably any of the par 3’s.

quote:

---

average carry is 228

---

I’ve seen shorter carries on the quad.

I barely carry 200 most of the time.

No double bogies and no 6s on your card

quote:

---

I don’t think 18 birdies handicap calculator is accurate. It’s got me at a 2.4, and I’m more like a 6 right now.

---

Meh I don’t think it’s perfect but it uses the same formula as GHIN so I imagine it’s pretty close

They take your last 20 rounds and calculate your handicap based off your best 8 just like GHIN.

I think the difference is GHIN won’t include a low round that is a certain number better than your handicap and 18 birdies will. So if you shoot a really great round (like your 67), 18 birdies will give you a lower handicap than GHIN

Short Game, Short Game, Short Game.

If you are a 12 then you can probably get around course pretty well. Play to middle of greens to stay out of short sided misses. Become a par machine. Nothing wrong with 10 -15 foot birdie putts. To be honest I was a 3 or a 4 when I stopped playing 14 months ago. I cleaned my clubs yesterday now that I have weekends free again.

Also don't over swing clubs. Learn how to play irons with a 80% to 90% swing. Most people will pull when the lay off swings but if you learn how to control you will be more consistent the last 2/3s of the course.

quote:

---

I think the difference is GHIN won’t include a low round that is a certain number better than your handicap and 18 birdies will. So if you shoot a really great round (like your 67), 18 birdies will give you a lower handicap than GHIN

---

GHIN includes your lowest 8 differentials. If a score is better than 7 strokes from your cap, it’s an exceptional score and deducts 1 from your 20 most recent scores

I'm with you biscuits. I've made breaking 80 such a huge thing that it seems impossible sometimes and it just completely gets in your head. It becomes this number that as soon as you see it is out of reach in a round you just get completely deflated. It's REALLY REALLY hard to get from an 81/82/83 to a 79. First off don't underestimate that and appreciate those low 80's, because if you can do that, those 70's are coming. You're on the right track.

I shot 79 on Saturday and it was was only my 2nd time ever doing it
I shot 78 almost a year ago to the date. A LOT of 80, 81, 82 rounds in between. I'm now an 8.4 index, my all time low.

And I made ZERO birdies on Saturday for the 79. Had 8 decent looks at birdie but didn't convert any. But they were all tap in pars.

As someone who has gone through this climb the last 7 or 8 years... this is what I've found gives me the best chance to break 80:

1) NO DOUBLE BOGEYS. You can make one, but you probably need a birdie to help you cancel it.

2) NO 3 PUTTS. Get really good at lag putting so your speed always leaves you with a fairly easy 2nd putt.

3) CHIP IT CLOSER TO THE HOLE. The days I'm breaking 80 or close, I am getting up and down for par A LOT. At least 4 or 5 times. You're going to miss probably 50% of greens most of the time. You need to know how to chip it close to turn bogeys into pars.

4) DON'T TOTAL UP YOUR SCORE until after the round. A lot of guys have said this, I do it too. You might have an idea where you are, but you never want that number floating around in your head. Every hole is its own battle. Write the score down and forget it.


Also, making birdies is not 100% necessary, but if you can start making 1 or 2 a round, it REALLY helps and takes a little of that mental pressure off too.